Booth cost estimates at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, MA: installation labor runs $130–$369 an hour and drayage $140–$360 per 100 lb at published rates. Exhibiting with a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth typically costs $42.7k – $97.8k all-in. These are market estimates, not Purple Exhibits prices.
- CityBoston, MA
- Labor$130–$369/hr
- Drayage$140–$360 per 100 lb
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain
What exhibiting at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center costs
Totals include the exhibit, drayage, installation and dismantle labor, electrical, round-trip freight, floor space, travel for three people, lead retrieval and a 10% contingency.
| Booth size | Rental exhibit | Custom or hybrid | Open in calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 inline | $16.9k – $44.3k | $27.4k – $60.2k | Adjust |
| 10×20 inline | $29k – $71.5k | $42.7k – $97.8k | Adjust |
| 20×20 island | $46.4k – $118k | $69.9k – $166k | Adjust |
| 20×30 island | $68k – $170k | $101k – $241k | Adjust |
These are typical market costs, worked out from published venue and show rates and industry price benchmarks. They are not Purple Exhibits prices. They cover everything it takes to exhibit, and much of the total is paid to the show organizer, its contractors, airlines and hotels: floor space, drayage, union labor, electrical and travel. In a 10×20 custom or hybrid budget, the exhibit itself is about $21.6k – $43.2k. For Purple Exhibits' own price on your booth, ask for a quote.
Where the money goes
Each line links to the document the number comes from. Official means published by the venue or show.
10×20 custom or hybrid
| Exhibit10×20 custom / hybrid: structure, graphics, flooring, lighting, AV, design | $21.6k – $43.2k | Industry guide |
|---|---|---|
| Drayage (material handling)1,800 lb at $140–$360 per 100 lb | $2.5k – $6.5k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle16–28 crew hours at $130–$369/hr | $2.1k – $10.3k | Official |
| Electrical2–3 500-watt outlets at $165 each (venue price list) | $330 – $495 | Official |
| Freight shippingRound trip, cross-country | $2.7k – $5.7k | Estimate |
| Lead retrievalBadge-scanning app license or device | $299 – $705 | Official |
| Floor space200 sq ft at $24–$65/sq ft | $4.8k – $13k | Industry guide |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $3.9k – $8.9k | Industry guide |
| Total | $42.7k – $97.8k | |
20×20 custom or hybrid island
| Exhibit20×20 custom / hybrid: structure, graphics, flooring, lighting, AV, design | $36k – $72k | Industry guide |
|---|---|---|
| Drayage (material handling)3,600 lb at $140–$360 per 100 lb | $5k – $13k | Official |
| Installation & dismantle32–56 crew hours at $130–$369/hr | $4.2k – $20.6k | Official |
| Electrical2–4 20-amp drops at $173–$350 each | $346 – $1.4k | Industry guide |
| Freight shippingRound trip, cross-country | $3.6k – $7.8k | Estimate |
| Lead retrievalBadge-scanning app license or device | $299 – $705 | Official |
| Floor space400 sq ft at $24–$65/sq ft | $9.6k – $26k | Industry guide |
| Travel & staffing3 people | $4.5k – $9k | Industry guide |
| Contingency (10%)Change orders, rush fees, surprises | $6.4k – $15.1k | Industry guide |
| Total | $69.9k – $166k | |
Rates at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Published labor (2026) for ASGCT 2026 Annual Meeting, May 11-15 2026: $368.62/hr straight time, $552.93 overtime. Published drayage (2026) for ASGCT 2026 Annual Meeting: $323.95–$360.23 per 100 lb.
- Installation & dismantle labor
- $130–$369 per hour, straight time Official
- Drayage (material handling)
- $140–$360 per 100 lb, round trip, 200 lb minimum Official
- Electrical
- $165–$200 per 500-watt outlet (advance price, then the standard price) Official
- Wired internet
- $1,800 for a basic connection Official
- Sales tax
- none on MCCA services; 6.25% on contractor rentals
- Setting up your own booth
- Per ASGCT 2026 (Heritage) kit: union personnel required to install/dismantle prefabricated exhibits, drapery and floor covering. Exhibitor staff may handle/set out merchandise, and may install/dismantle an exhibit only if it needs no hand tools, no more than one person, and takes 30 minutes or less. Teamster jurisdiction: hand-carried items only - no exhibitor dollies, hand trucks or pushcarts. Official
How Boston Convention & Exhibition Center compares
Published rates at the 28 US venues that publish their own.
Shows at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Pick a show to see its estimate.
- EchoStor Tech ConferenceOct 8, 2026
- AHCA/NCAL Convention & ExpoOct 11–14, 2026
- World Patient Safety Congress AmericasOct 14–15, 2026
- Veeva R&D and Quality SummitOct 18–20, 2026
- The MedTech Conference (AdvaMed)Oct 19–21, 2026
- DTECH NortheastNov 2–4, 2026
- Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference (WE26)Nov 5–7, 2026
- Automation Fair (Rockwell Automation)Nov 16–19, 2026
- Massachusetts Conference for WomenDec 10, 2026
- Boston RV & Camping Expo (New England RV Supershow)Jan 15–17, 2027
- Connect 351: MMA Annual Meeting & Trade ShowJan 21–22, 2027
- Yankee Dental CongressJan 28–30, 2027
Exhibiting at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
How much does a booth at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center cost?
Plan on $16.9k – $44.3k for a 10×10 rental booth and $42.7k – $97.8k for a 10×20 custom or hybrid booth. A 20×20 island runs $69.9k – $166k. Totals include the exhibit, drayage, installation and dismantle labor, electrical, round-trip freight, floor space, travel for three people, lead retrieval and a 10% contingency.
How much is drayage at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center?
Drayage at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center runs $140–$360 per 100 lb, round trip, with a 200 lb minimum. A 10×20 custom booth ships about 1,800 lb, so drayage comes to about $2.5k – $6.5k. Your show's exhibitor kit has the exact rate.
What does installation labor cost at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center?
Published installation and dismantle rates run $130–$369 per hour at straight time. Overtime is usually 1.5 times that. A 10×20 custom booth takes about 16–28 crew hours, so labor comes to $2.1k – $10.3k.
Are these Purple Exhibits prices?
No. These are typical market costs, worked out from published venue and show rates and industry price benchmarks. They are not Purple Exhibits prices. They include floor space, drayage, union labor, electrical and travel, which are paid to the show and its contractors, not to the booth builder. For Purple Exhibits' own price on your booth, ask for a quote.
Can I set up my own booth at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center?
Per ASGCT 2026 (Heritage) kit: union personnel required to install/dismantle prefabricated exhibits, drapery and floor covering. Exhibitor staff may handle/set out merchandise, and may install/dismantle an exhibit only if it needs no hand tools, no more than one person, and takes 30 minutes or less. Teamster jurisdiction: hand-carried items only - no exhibitor dollies, hand trucks or pushcarts.
More booth cost pages
- Boston Convention & Exhibition Center exhibitor guide
- Booth costs at Javits Center
- Booth costs at McCormick Place
- Booth costs at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
- Booth costs at San Diego Convention Center
- Booth costs at Walter E. Washington Convention Center
- Booth costs at Las Vegas Convention Center
- Booth costs at Anaheim Convention Center
- Booth costs at Kentucky Exposition Center
- Drayage and labor rates by venue
- Booth cost calculator: all 2,300 US shows
Numbers updated October 2026 from published exhibitor kits and price lists. Rates are set per show, so your exhibitor kit has the final prices.
Want Purple's price at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center?
The numbers on this page are market estimates. Send us your booth size and we'll quote our own price, line by line, within 24 hours.
